Just days after dropping out of the "Footloose" remake to pursue non-musical films, Zac Efron has been cast in "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," Variety reports. The film will be directed by Burr Steers, who worked with Efron on his upcoming release "17 Again," but has also directed more serious fare like "Igby Goes Down."

According to Variety, the film, based on the book by Ben Sherwood, is about "a caretaker at a cemetery who manages to have weekly meetings with a younger brother whose accidental death he feels was his fault."

Although negotiations for Efron are still under way, production is expected to start in July with Steers already finishing up the script. Variety goes on to report that Paramount is currently meeting with actors to replace Efron in "Footloose."

On Monday, Paramount released a statement that addressed Efron dropping out of the film. "Footloose is a project we've longed to see re-booted for a new generation. While Zac is no longer attached, we remain excited and committed to the collective brain trust of [director] Kenny Ortega, [producers] Neil Meron and Craig Zaden, who will reinvigorate the franchise," a Paramount Pictures rep told Usmagazine.com. "Their fresh take on the film will undoubtedly be filled with the same kind of breakout performances that we've come to expect from them."

In addition to the upcoming flick "17 Again," Efron also has the more serious "Me and Orson Welles" set for release sometime this year. The actor has expressed a desire to take on more mature roles. "As far back as I can remember, I couldn't understand or relate to a lot of kids," he recently told Elle magazine.

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